Anytime I See a University Graduate Riding a Bike on the Streets, I Feel Bad and Think Education is No Longer Working
Introduction
Education has long been seen as the ultimate key to success. Parents sacrifice everything to send their children to school, believing that the certificate they receive will unlock doors of opportunity. In many parts of the world—especially in Africa and countries like Nigeria—this belief is so deeply rooted that families often invest their entire life savings just to see one child graduate. For decades, this belief was true: a university degree meant automatic respect, good jobs, financial stability, and social mobility.
But the reality today paints a very different picture. Anytime one sees a university graduate riding a commercial motorcycle (popularly known as okada in Nigeria), or struggling with petty jobs on the street, a deep sadness sets in. Questions begin to surface: Has education failed? Why does a graduate have to resort to menial labor? Is the system broken, or is society itself the problem?
This blog will take an honest, in-depth look at these questions. We will explore why so many graduates end up on the streets hustling, the structural problems in education and employment, and whether education is still “working” in today’s world.
Chapter 1: The Historical Promise of Education
For centuries, education was a sacred promise. A child who studied hard and graduated was automatically seen as part of the elite. In Nigeria, the first generation of university graduates in the 1950s–1970s were often celebrated. They returned home to their villages with cars, good jobs, and respect. To be a graduate was to be a “made person.”
In fact, during the oil boom of the 1970s, companies competed to hire graduates. Many had multiple job offers waiting even before they completed their final exams. Education truly worked, and parents pushed their children to study as the only ladder out of poverty.
But by the 1990s and into the 21st century, things changed drastically. The same certificate that guaranteed employment in the past now sits useless in drawers. Many graduates are unemployed or underemployed, and instead of corner offices, they are found on the streets, riding motorcycles, driving tricycles, selling recharge cards, or doing hard labor.
So, what went wrong?
Chapter 2: The Harsh Reality of Graduate Unemployment
Graduate unemployment is not just a Nigerian problem; it is a global crisis. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), youth unemployment remains one of the highest categories of joblessness worldwide. But in Nigeria, the situation is more alarming.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that youth unemployment (ages 15–34) hovers between 35–42%.
Millions of graduates churned out by over 200 universities and polytechnics flood the labor market every year with no jobs waiting for them.
Employers constantly complain that graduates lack employable skills, even though they spent years studying.
This reality explains why a graduate of Economics may end up riding an okada. Not because he is lazy, but because the system has failed to provide a platform for him to use his knowledge.
Chapter 3: The Emotional Weight of Seeing a Graduate on the Streets
There is a psychological pain that comes with seeing someone who spent years studying, investing effort and money, only to end up doing the same work as someone with no formal education.
Anytime you see a graduate riding a bike:
You feel education is no longer valuable.
You question the sacrifices of parents.
You begin to doubt whether schooling is worth the cost.
You wonder what future awaits the next generation.
For the graduates themselves, the pain is even deeper:
They battle shame, especially when old classmates see them.
They feel betrayed by the system that promised them jobs.
They live with frustration and low self-esteem.
Many fall into depression and hopelessness.
This is why many young people today say things like, “School na scam.”
Chapter 4: Why Is Education No Longer Working?
Several factors explain why education seems to have lost its power.
1. Overpopulation of Graduates
Nigeria has over 200 universities, polytechnics, and colleges producing hundreds of thousands of graduates every year. The economy, however, is not expanding at the same rate. This mismatch leads to oversupply of graduates and scarcity of jobs.
2. Outdated Curriculum
Most universities still teach theories from textbooks written decades ago. The world has moved on to technology, artificial intelligence, and digital entrepreneurship, but many students are still studying irrelevant materials.
3. Weak Economy
A fragile economy that cannot create jobs will always leave graduates stranded. Without industries, manufacturing plants, and tech hubs, there are fewer opportunities for gainful employment.
4. Corruption and Nepotism
In many places, jobs are not given based on merit but on connections, tribe, or bribes. This leaves hardworking graduates outside the system.
5. Failure to Teach Practical Skills
A graduate of engineering who never touched real machines during his studies, or a graduate of business who never started a small enterprise during school, will struggle in the real world.
Chapter 5: The Rise of the Hustling Graduate
Faced with unemployment, many graduates now embrace street hustles:
Riding bikes and tricycles
Becoming POS operators
Selling goods in traffic
Running online hustles like betting and forex
Doing freelance gigs
While these hustles may provide survival income, they are not what many expected after years of formal education. Yet, they also reveal the resilience of young people who refuse to give up.
Chapter 6: Does This Mean Education Has Failed Completely?
Here is the big truth: Education has not completely failed, but the type of education we practice has failed.
Education should not just be about certificates—it should be about skills, creativity, problem-solving, and innovation. Unfortunately, the current system emphasizes rote learning, exams, and paper qualifications.
That is why graduates with entrepreneurial thinking, digital skills, or technical knowledge often succeed, while those who rely only on certificates struggle.
Chapter 7: Stories of Graduates in Unlikely Jobs
The Graduate Okada Rider
A young man with a degree in Political Science rides okada in Lagos. He says: “I searched for jobs for two years. Nothing. I cannot beg my parents for food. This is my only way to survive.”The Tricycle Operator Engineer
An engineering graduate in Kano operates a tricycle. He laughs bitterly, saying: “I studied machines, but the only machine I can control now is a Keke Napep.”The POS Graduate
A banking and finance graduate opens a small POS shop in his neighborhood. He admits he never expected it but says: “At least, I am my own boss.”
These stories reflect thousands of silent cries across the country.
JOIN POP AD NETWORK Chapter 8: How Can Education Work Again?
To restore value to education, several reforms are needed:
1. Curriculum Reform
Introduce coding, digital skills, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy.
Reduce theory, increase practical exposure.
2. Stronger Link Between Schools and Industries
Internship programs should be mandatory.
Universities should partner with companies to provide training.
3. Encourage Vocational and Technical Skills
Not everyone needs to work in an office.
Vocational skills like carpentry, fashion, electrical work, and mechanics should be respected.
4. Support for Graduate Entrepreneurship
Government should fund graduate start-ups.
Access to small loans should be easier.
5. Mindset Shift
Graduates must stop depending solely on certificates.
They must embrace creativity, networking, and problem-solving.
Chapter 9: The Role of Government and Society
Education can only work if the larger society works. This means:
Fighting corruption so jobs are given on merit.
Creating industries and infrastructure.
Supporting local businesses that can employ graduates.
Encouraging respect for all kinds of work, not just “white-collar jobs.”
Chapter 10: A Personal Reflection
Anytime I see a graduate riding a bike, my heart aches—not because the rider is lazy, but because I know he deserved better. I feel bad because it reflects a broken system. Yet, I also admire the courage of such graduates, because instead of begging or stealing, they chose dignity in labor.
Education is not useless. What is useless is an outdated, rigid, and disconnected system of education. Until we redesign education to meet the needs of the 21st-century economy, more graduates will be on the streets.
Conclusion
Education was once the golden key to success, but today it no longer guarantees employment. The sight of graduates riding bikes or doing menial jobs is a painful reminder that our system is broken. However, this should not lead us to abandon education. Instead, it should inspire urgent reform—curriculum change, entrepreneurial training, digital skills acquisition, and an economy that truly works.
Anytime you see a graduate hustling on the streets, do not mock them. See them as victims of a failed structure but also as symbols of resilience. Education still has value, but it must evolve with the times. Until then, the streets will continue to absorb our graduates, and society will continue to question whether education is truly working.
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